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A front end processor (FEP), or a communications processor, is a small-sized computer which interfaces to the host computer a number of networks, such as
SNA SNA or Sna may refer to: Organizations * Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), Bulgaria's largest English-language news provider * Shanni Nationalities Army * Singapore National Academy, a school in Surabaya, Indonesia * Sky News Australia, an Austra ...
, or a number of peripheral devices, such as terminals, disk units, printers and tape units. Data is transferred between the host computer and the front end processor using a high-speed parallel interface. The front end processor communicates with peripheral devices using slower serial interfaces, usually also through communication networks. The purpose is to off-load from the host computer the work of managing the peripheral devices, transmitting and receiving messages, packet assembly and disassembly, error detection, and error correction. Two examples are the IBM 3705 Communications Controller and the Burroughs Data Communications Processor. Sometimes FEP is synonymous with a communications controller, although the latter is not necessarily as flexible. Early communications controllers such as the
IBM 270x 270x is a generic name for a family of IBM non-programmable communications controllers used with System/360 The IBM System/360 (S/360) is a family of mainframe computer systems that was announced by IBM on April 7, 1964, and delivered betwee ...
series were
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, but later units were programmable devices. Front end processor is also used in a more general sense in asymmetric multi-processor systems. The FEP is a processing device (usually a computer) which is closer to the input source than is the main processor. It performs some task such as
telemetry Telemetry is the in situ collection of measurements or other data at remote points and their automatic transmission to receiving equipment (telecommunication) for monitoring. The word is derived from the Greek roots ''tele'', "remote", and ' ...
control, data collection, reduction of raw sensor data, analysis of keyboard input, etc. Front-end processes relates to the software interface between the user (
client Client(s) or The Client may refer to: * Client (business) * Client (computing), hardware or software that accesses a remote service on another computer * Customer or client, a recipient of goods or services in return for monetary or other valuabl ...
) and the application processes ( server) in the client/server architecture. The user enters input (data) into the front-end process where it is collected and processed in such a way that it conforms to what the receiving application (back end) on the server can accept and process. As an example, the user enters a URL into a GUI (front-end process) such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. The GUI then processes the URL in such a way that the user is able to reach or access the intended web pages on the web server (application server known as the “back end” process). Front-end processors or communications processors relates to efficient use of the host CPU by off-loading processing for peripheral control, as an example, to another device or controller.


Communications FEPs in IP era

FEPs are responsible for linking client applications and their associated networks to host computer based applications. With the advent of the Internet and of IP as a universal protocol, it is often assumed that there is no longer any need for FEPs, which traditionally handled SNA traffic. This may be true where FEPs provide only straight connectivity (and assuming IP address never changes). However, FEPs also perform other vital functions, that are closely linked to transaction applications, including message and transaction switching,
multiplexing In telecommunications and computer networking, multiplexing (sometimes contracted to muxing) is a method by which multiple analog or digital signals are combined into one signal over a shared medium. The aim is to share a scarce resource - a ...
, transaction security,
quality of service Quality of service (QoS) is the description or measurement of the overall performance of a service, such as a telephony or computer network, or a cloud computing service, particularly the performance seen by the users of the network. To quantitat ...
guarantors, and end-to-end transaction management and reporting. The need for these functions is especially important in mission critical transaction environments such as banking, government, point-of-sale, security, and health care applications. In these environments, FEP functionality is more necessary than ever before. Although the IBM Corporation withdrew its 3745/3746 Communications Front End Processors from marketing in 2003, the company continues to maintain the estimated 20,000 installed front end processors. IBM also provides microcode enhancement features. Smaller companies have filled the void created by IBM's action, providing machines, features, parts and services worldwide.


See also

*
Interface Message Processor The Interface Message Processor (IMP) was the packet switching In telecommunications, packet switching is a method of grouping Data (computing), data into ''network packet, packets'' that are transmitted over a digital Telecommunications netwo ...


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Front End Processors for Substations
{{DEFAULTSORT:Front End Processor Embedded systems Mainframe computers